Genetic Variability, Correlation and Path Analysis in Pea (Pisum sativum L.)

Thirty-five genotypes of indigenous and exotic origin were grown over eight environments to study the genetic variability, correlation and path coefficients among thirteen quantitative characters in pea (Pisum sativum L.). Wide range of variability was observed for most of the characters under study. Significant differences in the magnitude of PCV and corresponding GCV were observed for branches per plant, pods per plant, seed yield and harvest index suggesting greater role of environment in the expression of these traits. Plant height, grain yield per plant, dry matter yield, 100-seed weight and number of pods per plant had high phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variations coupled with moderate to high estimates of heritability and expected genetic advances. Seed yield showed positive and significant association with number of pods per node. Seed yield was negatively associated with days to 50% flowering, days to green pod picking and days to maturity. Path coefficient analysis revealed that yield per plant is directly affected by number of pods per plant, dry matter yield, pod length, harvest index and number of seeds per pod and thus it may be treated as sclection criteria for isolating higher yielding genotypes in pea.